By my very non-scientific calculations around 75% of Australia is outback. That’s a lot of country to explore. This month I’m focussing on just a little of what the Aussie outback has to offer.

Where is the Aussie Outback?

There is no line in the sand with outback on the other side. It’s more of a gradual transition, which means that some places are more outback than others. In the good old days, the outback was anywhere west of the Blue Mountains.  That’s probably taking it a bit far these days, but still the definition is more one of personal perspective up to a point.

The cities give way to towns that give way to smaller towns until all there is for hundreds of kilometres is remote Australia. The Aussie outback is the desert, it’s the channel country, it’s the scrub. It’s communities that survive in seemingly impossible environments. It’s the places we’ve all heard about; Uluru and the Bungle Bungles. It’s the places people have never been.

Why go to the outback?

The reasons to visit the outback are just as diverse as the environment itself.

Cultural experience

The outback is home to innumerable aboriginal cultural sites. It’s a learning pot for our indigenous heritage. Significant, and to the untrained eye seemingly insignificant, landmarks all have a story behind them. Even the flora and fauna have tales around their creation. There is artwork thousands of years old. So old that some of the creatures depicted in it no longer exist.

Younger cultures have developed over the last 200 years or so. The quirky characters that can only be found in the outback. Gem miners, jackeroos and gypsies. The stoic and determined folk that stick it out in the little towns and the immense stations. They all combine to make a unique experience that is the Aussie Outback.

A change of pace

I love a beach holiday as much as the next person. But I also love to get away from the hustle to more remote parts of the country for an outback holiday. It’s not as easy as a trip to the coast. It takes more planning and more time to get there. But the change of pace and the completely different experiences make the effort so worthwhile.

Diversity

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking the outback is all desert. There are deserts like the Simpson and Gibson Deserts. But the outback in Australia is much more diverse. This year, especially, after record rains much of the eastern part of outback Australia has been transformed into thriving wetlands. Birds and greenery have returned to what has been scrub for too many years.

The Macdonnell and Flinders Ranges are different again. The northern part of the outback has it’s more tropical climate and is different again from the south. And the towns each have their own characters from the large mining communities to the little “pub is all there is” towns.

Getting there

Fortunately, a lot of outback travel can be done in the family car. The blacktop will deliver you to all the major destinations without the need for a degree in 4×4 driving. It’s not just a 2 hour drive down the road though, so as I mentioned before, there is some extra planning and care involved. If you’d rather not drive or do it on your own, there are flights into the major towns and tours operate for just about every experience there is.

But on the whole, there is no reason not to pile the family into the car and head off for your own outback adventure.

Happy travels,

Images  robertpaulyoung and livunni via Flickr

Baby brolga at Serendip Sanctuary

At the end of each month I’d like to share the interesting bits I found on the web.  These are some of the things that caught my eye over the last few weeks.

Flying with kids on budget airlines

Flying with kids can be tricky at the best of times.  Add budget airlines to that, with their stripped down service, stringent travel requirements and (at times) crazy delays, and there’s a whole new set of challenges to deal with.  The always organised Planning Queen shared her experiences of taking her young kids to Sydney, by herself, on a budget airline.  As usual her advice is golden.

Learning on family vacation

I’ve been mulling over a post on this very topic for a few weeks now.  It’s something close to my heart and one of the reasons I love to travel with our kids so much.

Ngilgi cave

This image from Science at Home caught my eye, as we’ve not long returned from the Buchan Caves in Victoria.  Deb has managed to capture a great range of formations in this image and gives a good explanation of what they all are.

How to have a completely peaceful car ride with three small kids

This post from Simple Mom certainly isn’t what I expected when I read the headline.  Nonetheless, it is great advice and something that I should try to practice more often.

The new 7 wonders of nature

The New7Wonders of Nature campaign is in its final stages.  After an initial pool of 440 possibles, 28 candidates are vying for a spot in the New 7 Wonders of Nature.  Uluru and The Great Barrier Reef are in the final group.  So forget about Julia and Tony for a while and give these two natural wonders of Australia your vote.

Enjoy!

Happy travels,

Geelong is beautifully situated overlooking Corio Bay.  For the longest time, the potential of the waterfront was ignored.  It has an industrial history with woolstores and working ports taking up many of the best spots for years.  Then someone came to their senses and council has spent a lot of time and money reclaiming the area.  Now instead of farm trucks loaded with wool chugging down the streets there are tourists and the lucky locals.

The most kid friendly part of the Geelong Waterfront starts around Cunningham Pier.  You can’t miss it, stretching out into Corio Bay and punctuated with a perfectly white restaurant at its end.  The restaurant is currently under redevelopment, but when it reopens with a cafe, restaurant and function rooms it will have the most spectacular views of the bay and city.  If you never leave this little part of the waterfront you’d still have a fun filled day.

There’s the skate park.  I don’t know much about skate parks, but my skating mad nephew tells me it’s the bees knees (my words, not his – obviously).  I saw it on TV too, in an interview with an award winning skate park designer, so I figure it’s up there as far as skate parks go.

Younger kids are catered for in this area with a playground, including slides, a climbing rope pyramid and what I like to call Puff the Magic Dragon.  He floats along partially submerged in the grass and makes a great climbing frame too.

On the first Sunday of each month the tall ship Enterprize docks at the pier and does 1 hour sails around the bay.

Next to Cunningham Pier is the beautifully restored carousel, in it’s equally impressive “glass house”.  The carousel operates every day.

Continuing east around the waterfront past the Geelong Yacht Club and marina is Eastern Beach.  Volleyball nets are a permanent fixture on the beach, although they don’t get used much during winter.  Nonetheless, the kids love a bit of sand.  They seem to be quite happily to dig holes and build sandcastles until the icecream truck beckons.

Then there’s the part of the waterfront that was developed in the old days (the 1930′s is old days now, isn’t it?):  a promenade passing by the huge semi-circular ocean swimming pool (free), the kids pool (free) and a new, you beaut playground.

The shore is lovely and grassy with a smattering of tables, although you’d be wise to BYO picnic rug as the tables are taken up pretty quickly.  The adjacent Beach House has a cafe and restaurant.

This is the area I like best.  There’s so much to keep the kids occupied that hubby and I can lounge back, taking in the beautiful view, and actually speak to each other without being interrupted every 30 seconds.  Magic.

Mindil Markets, Darwin. Image via Wikipedia

Continuing the tropical theme, because it’s still very cold where I am, today it’s the turn of that other great tropical Australian city, Darwin.  They’re in the middle of the of the dry season now and with an average year round temperature of 32°C, it’s another place that attracts those of us in search of warmer days.

It’s Festival Season in the Northern Territory at the moment, so there’s a million and one things to do in addition to all the magnificent natural wonders to be seen.

1. Darwin Beercan Regatta

On Sunday, August 8 the waters off Mindil Beach come alive with craft of a different kind.  Teams build boats out of cans (beer or otherwise), designing them in the hope that they’ll float long enough to complete a race.  There is a full day of family activities planned, including boat judging, races (boat and foot), tug of war and novelty events.  The Beercan Regatta has been running for 36 years and is

“…very much a family day out for locals and is rapidly becoming a spectacular for the tourists to Darwin who line Mindil Beach cheering as the home made boats of cans wallow, flounder and sink. The fleet includes all kinds of boats; sometimes with fire hoses and top secret weaponry.”  http://www.beercanregatta.org.au

2. Darwin Festival

Running from August 12 – 29, the Darwin Festival includes a selection of family events.  A few that caught my eye are:

• The opening concert, featuring indigenous performers from Australia and around the world
• Teddy Bear’s picnic in the Botanic Gardens
• Under the Banyan Tree Storytelling with myths, legends and fairytales from around the globe.

3. Take a walk

There are heaps of walking and bike paths around Darwin.  Many take in the coastal area where you can experience mangrove forests and, if you’re lucky, some of their inhabitants.  Playgrounds and picnic areas are also situated along some paths for a well earned break.

4. Lake Alexander

For our kids, if it’s warm enough to go without thermals it’s warm enough for a swim.  Darwin’s weather pretty much guarantees they’d be in the water the majority of the day.  Lake Alexander has a lovely sandy beach, kid safe and safe for year round swimming.  The surrounds are nice and shady, for the non-swimmers to relax in and there’s a playground for when the wrinkly kids finally drag themselves from the water.

5. Visit the Botanic Gardens

Image by Wayne & Sally (flickr)

Darwin’s Botanic Gardens are a tropical wonderland.  They were mostly destroyed by Cyclone Tracey, but have come back better than before.  I can imagine spending an entire day in the gardens just enjoying the greenness and the waterfalls.  The kids aren’t forgotten.  There’s a treehouse for them and plenty of pools and “secret” pathways to explore.

6. Take the Tour Tub

Darwin’s Tourist Bus ferries visitors around the most popular tourist attractions of the city, while passing by much of the accommodation making pick up and drop off easy.  Stops include the Darwin Museum, Aquascene (with fish feeding), the Botanic Gardens and Fanny Bay Gaol.  Cost is $30/adult and $15/child (4-12) for a full day’s touring, including entry to the WWII tunnels.

7. Crocodylus Park

Image: Wikimedia

Want to get up close and personal with a crocodile? Me either. But from a safe distance I am quite interested in these fascinating beasts.  At the Crocodylus Park and Zoo you can watch crocodiles being fed, learn about them in the museum, even feel their skin (put those shoe thoughts out of your mind!).  The zoo is also home to turtles, iguanas and tigers to name a few.  A great day out.  Cost is $30/adult, $15/child (3-15) and $80 family (2 adults & 2 children).

8. Lie back and watch a movie

Darwin’s famous Deckchair Cinema runs from April to November.  Every night from 7:30 movies are shown on the shores of the beautiful Darwin Habour.  That would have to be the best cinema in Australia.  Cost $13/adult and $6/child or $20/adult and $9/child for double features (on weekends).

9. Ride a wave

If the waters of Lake Alexander don’t provide enough action, try the Wave Lagoon on Darwin’s waterfront.  Waves of up to 1.7 metres are generated in this manmade lagoon, plenty big enough for a boogie board.  There is also a toddlers area so kids of all ages (even Dad) can enjoy themselves.  Cost for a family ticket is $12 for a half day and $16 for a full day.

10. Mindil Beach Markets

Every Thursday and Sunday evening during the Dry Season, Mindil Beach comes alive with the Mindil Beach Markets.  There’s arts and crafts of every description for sale and plenty of food stalls to keep the rumbling tummies at bay.  Even if you’re not buying, the markets are a fascinating place to wander around and experience the melting pot of cultures that Darwin has attracted.  The markets run from 5-10pm on Thursdays and 4-9pm on Sundays.

Getting & staying there

There’s three options for getting to Darwin:

• Plane – QANTAS flys into Darwin from all the mainland capitals.  The budget airlines also all fly in, but not all provide the service from all capital cities.  You can check on Expedia* to find the best way to fly in
• Rail – The famous Ghan travels between Adelaide and Darwin.  This probably isn’t an option for most families due to cost and the practicalities of keeping kids from going feral on a three day train journey.  We have it on our retirement bucket list.
• Road – Are you ready for The Great Aussie Roadtrip?  Darwin is accessible from the south (approximately 3,000km from Adelaide), east (approximately 3,500km from Brisbane) and west (approximately 4,000km from Perth) by road.

Being a major tourist destination, there’s a stack of accommodation to choose from.  Again, Expedia* can help you sort through the many choices on offer.

Happy travels,

*Referral link (I’ll earn a commission if you book via this link. That doesn’t affect your price, but it does support Australia: Family Style – so thank you!)

When I think tropical I automatically think Queensland.  Being so large, the choices up there are pretty huge.

For a southerner like me, at the moment a pool in my cousins’ backyard in Brisbane could pass as tropical.  But the real tropicalness is found in Tropical North Queensland (not all that surprising).  The good folk up there call it paradise and it’s not hard to see why.  Take a look:

1. Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Australia, 2. Cairns Swimming Lagoon, 3. Cairns Sunrise, 4. Archontophoenix maxima in the wild, 5. Mountains, Mossman river cruise, Daintree Rain Forest, Australia 3.jpg, 6. Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Australia, 7. Looking out, 8. Water Lily, 9. Four Mile Beach – Port Douglas Lookout

Cairns

The average winter temperatures in Cairns (the major city of Tropical North Queensland) range from 16°C to around 25°C.  In the wet season (October to March) the humidity kicks in and average temperatures are around 23°C to around 32°C, although much higher temperatures aren’t uncommon.  Today it’s a tantalising 26°C.  Book me in!

“Cairns is a vibrant, eclectic city framed by the spectacular twin backdrops of rainforest mountain ranges and the sparkling Coral Sea. The World Heritage listed Wet Tropics Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef and the Outback are all within easy reach.” www.queenslandholidays.com.au

In the city centre you’ll find the Cairns Lagoon.  It’s slightly quirky with its fish sculptures, but perfect for a cooling dip on a hot tropical day.  My kids would be happy if they never saw anything else around Cairns.  There are plenty of spots for a picnic around the lagoon with BBQ’s and picnic tables available.

Nearby is Muddy’s Playground, a free playground with stacks of fun activities to keep the tribe running and jumping and playing for ages.

Where to stay in Cairns*

Port Douglas

Port Douglas is a playground for the rich and famous.  But that’s not to say us commoners can’t enjoy a few days there too!  And who knows, you might get to strike up a conversation with Hugh or Nic while both your kids get on with the fun stuff.

Four Mile Beach, which features in many images of Port Douglas, is a short stroll from the town centre.  It’s safe to swim in all year round, as a stinger net is in place during summer.  The gorgeous sandy expanse is the perfect running track for energetic little legs or, if you’re lucky, a romatic stroll.

Nearby, the Daintree Rainforest offers many walks where the entire family can soak in the sounds, scents and sights of a magnificent tropical rainforest.  Mossman Gorge offers another opportunity for exploring and has walking trails suitable for kids.

Where to stay in Port Douglas*

Mission Beach

Not far south of Cairns is Mission Beach.  It has a more relaxed feel than both Cairns and Port Douglas.   The beaches around Mission Beach, 14km in all, are made for exploring.  Only some have stinger nets though, so be sure to check before swimming anywhere.  Nearby, at Kurrimine Beach the Great Barrier Reef kisses the shore.  At low tide all sorts of little seaside inhabitants can be found in the rockpools.

Less than 5km offshore is Dunk Island.  Close enough for a daytrip or, for a longer stay, there are campsites and Dunk Island Resort.

A short detour inland from Mission Beach takes you to Tully, which has the claim to fame of the highest annual rainfall in Australia.  They’re not called rainforests for nothing!

The area is a bit of a haven for Big Things.  Aficionados will know that Tully is also home to the big Golden Gumboot.  Quite fitting really.  And back in Mission Beach is the Big Cassowary.

Where to stay in Mission Beach*

Although the ocean in Tropical North Queensland looks beautifully inviting, it is also very attractive to stingers during the summer months.  Some beaches are protected by stinger nets, but many aren’t, so be sure to check where and when it’s safe to take a dip.

More things to do:

• Cairns Night Zoo
• Kuranda Scenic Railway
• Hartleys Crocodile Adventures
• Great Barrier Reef Cruise

Do you have a Tropical North Queensland holiday experience to share? Do tell in the comments section below & help warm us all up

Happy travels,

*Referral link (I’ll earn a commission if you book via this link. That doesn’t affect your price, but it does support Australia: Family Style – so thank you!)